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The Parish Church of 8. Michael, Merc. 



The tower is a magnificent one in proportion and dimensions, 

 and a fine piece of masonry, but it is plainly treated with the 

 exception of the parapet. It strikingly resembles, in type, that of 

 S. Peter's, Marlborough, but it is bolder in detail and conceived on 

 a larger scale. It is 94Jft. in height from the ground to the top 

 of the parapet (the pinnacles rise about 29 Jft. above this) , and about 

 23ft. square on plan exclusive of the buttresses. It is of three 

 stages in height, divided by string-courses. At each angle is an 

 octagonal buttress (that on the north-west contains the staircase for 

 the full height) about 7-J-ft. in diameter at the lower stage, carried 

 up for the full height and terminating in a spirelet springing from 

 a simple moulded and embattled cornice. There is a chamfered 

 plinth, and above this a base mould. The cornice beneath the 

 parapet is a repetition of the string-courses. The parapet is an 

 embattled one enriched by two stages of sunk tracery in quatref oils 

 with shields, this work being very similar to that on the tomb 

 between the chancel and south chapel. There is a three-light 

 window in each face of the upper stage. The middle stage is 

 divided into two on the west face with a two -light window in each 

 part. In the lower stage there is a low four-centred doorway 

 without label in the west face, and above it a four-light window of 

 transitional type with a vesica in a curious position in the tracery. 

 The label has square terminals. Over the window is carved an 

 angel holding a shield with the device I. U.S. 



There is distinct evidence of the tower having been built after 

 the west Avail of the north aisle, and the latter made out to insert 

 the buttress. The outside stonework of the tower is Chilmark, as 

 are the buttresses where they occur inside the Church. The archway 

 into the nave is a line specimen of the panelled type like the chancel 

 arch, lift. 2in. wide; the jambs are 3ft. lOin. thick, and the 

 sinkings are bold and deep. 



being the house now known as "the old vicarage," or " Lay field House," due 

 west of the tower across the road. In some manner it found its way, about the 

 beginning of the century, to the house known as " Dean's Orchard," to the south 

 of the churchyard, and was there used for domestic purposes by successive tenants 

 till it was discovered in 1895 in the corner of a dark coal cellar and re-hung in 

 the bell-cot. 



